Tag: TTC–Queen

Notes on this pub crawl: in honour of the fabled London Circle Line pub crawl, here’s a Toronto variation, TorontoPubs presents the TTC Loop Pub Crawl. I have selected the best pub in the TTC station area for a pub crawl, not necessary the one I would go to for the entire afternoon or evening. But what do I know? This is 14 stops, so a half-pint or sharing a pitcher with friends might be wiser than a full pint. Also keep in mind that the Museum Tavern is a bit snooty, but you’re stuck with what’s local. Finally, some pubs are closer to one another than actually walking back to the TTC station taking it one stop and then walking to the next pub, but that’s the charm of a TTC pub crawl — a bit of a breather. If you want to walk the route instead of taking the TTC, according to GoogleMaps, from the door of a pub to all 13 other pubs and then back to the starting pub takes just over two hours.

If you don’t agree with the pubs selected, click on the related TTC station below to get all pubs that are marked with that tag on this blog and choose your own!

Notes on pub crawls in general: consider at least 45 minutes per pub visit and let your server know that you having just one drink and then moving on into the fizzy night so she/he knows that you’ll need your bill quickly. Pay by cash so you aren’t waiting for the credit card/debit machine and tip generously as you may be back one day for longer than just one drink. Check the pub’s website/Twitter (links in TorontoPubs review of establishment) in case they have an event that night. Also keep in mind the day and time, Saturday nights with the FIFA World Cup’s final on is not the best night for said pub crawl, but it is one of the best times to be in a pub.

The Firkin On Yonge (website, Twitter) 207 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M5B 2H1 (on the east side, between Queen Street and Shuter Street, the nearest major intersection is Queen Street and Yonge Street) 647-345-0455Google Maps

Is this really a pub?

The Firkin On Yonge is the brightest pub I have ever been in! Blindingly white walls! They also don’t have cider. I don’t know if they are being ironic, but having a picture of stick-thin Twiggy on a place that serves food doesn’t really inspire confidence.

The Firkin On Yonge is a relatively new pub (it opened in the spring of 2012), but it has a built-in reputation as part of the Firkin pub chain — so too many televisions, limited menu, and regular beer selection — but there’s more to pubs than that! The pub is long and narrow (it has an exit on the alleyway near Massey Hall). Downstairs, they have a long bar and lots of booths and upstairs can be a private party room. Apparently, the place attracts a business crowd during the day, despite the fact that they are across the street from the Eaton Centre.

When asking my better half for his thoughts on the Firkin On Yonge, he said that he had nothing to add, it left no impression. Considering the location, you’d think they would at least try, but with substandard service, no cider, and no atmosphere, I really would go anywhere else but here.

Number of visits by yours truly:first and last visit on a Saturday afternoon in March 2013. Second pub of the day!TTC information:just north of Queen StationBooze selection:24 beers, but no cider! (no Pimm’s)Food selection:standard Firkin pub grub with lots of sandwiches and wrapsService staff:not good, our server was too busy and it appears we aren’t the only ones who have noticed the harried servers. When we got our change back from our bill, our server gave us back two dollars too much, when I politely pointed this out to her, all she said was “okay”Prices:standard Firkin prices, not expensive, but not cheapToilets: downstairs and clean enoughPatio:tiny smoking patio on YongeWheelchair accessible:yes, they even have an elevatorTelevisions:lots and lotsLive music:apparently they do have live music, but I could see no promotion of itPiped-in music: Muse, Depeche Mode, and Tom Petty

McVeigh’s New Windsor Tavern (website)
124 Church Street, Toronto ON M5C 2G8 (on the southeast corner of Richmond Street East and Church Street, the nearest major intersection is Yonge and Queen Streets) 416-364-9698Google Maps

Nothing like a review of a bad pub to remind you why you started this blog in the first place!

You know you don’t feel welcomed when an old man comes up to you when you enter a pub and says “Are you with the group upstairs?” No pleasantries, no smile. If I was with the group upstairs, I’d be with the group upstairs! I decided to check out the toilet and the same old man appeared like an apparition and asks me why I going downstairs. I said I wanted to use the ladies’ and he says they weren’t there. No pleasantries, no smile, no directions. I turned around and went back to my seat wondering why they didn’t have a ladies’ (you never know). It was only when I was re-seated that I saw the grumpy old man staring at me and waving me towards the back of the pub. I ignored him and then saw him shake his head at me. I later shifted over to see that there was a ladies’, hidden by all the pillars. If you can’t see the ladies’ toilet from where you are sitting because there are pillars in the way you assume that the ladies’ is where the men’s is. I never did bother to go.

Fortunately, my knight in shining armour had seen the Beer Academy (reopening soon!) on the way to McVeigh’s, and seeing what a disappointment McVeigh’s was for me, he suggested we go there sometime. I said why don’t we go tonight and so we did and had a lovely time instead. I will never ever go back to McVeigh’s and if this post convinces one other person to go somewhere else instead I will have considered my half-hour visit there not wasted. (My knight in shining armour had no problem with the pub, but he can be easier going than I can be sometimes.)

Number of visits by yours truly: first and last visit in November 2012TTC information: a two-minute walk from Queen StationBooze selection:7 beers (that ain’t a typo) and Magners cider (no Pimm’s)Food selection:on a blackboard (that had serious glare on it) with a bare bones selection. The poutine was goodService staff: our waitress was nice, but the old man needs to learn how to interact with the publicPrices: we learned after we ordered that the poutine was $10 on the bill as the bare bones menu did not feature pricesToilets: unknown, but apparently the men’s is the toilet that time forgotPatio: tiny patio on Church StreetWheelchair accessible: nopeTelevisions: two, one was turned offLive music: yes, several nights a weekPiped-in music: Juice Newton and Lionel Richie

The Duke of Richmond Pub (website, Twitter)20 Queen Street West, Toronto ON M5H 3R3 (on the east side, just west of Yonge Street, with the main entrance one block over on James Street) 416-340-7887Google Maps

Great for watching local politicians or getting a bite to eat before a play.

This pub, like many in the downtown core, can get crowded and the Duke of Richmond is no exception. Like many of the other Duke pubs, service can be hit and miss. A few months ago, I e-mailed to make a reservation using their internet reservation system and no one got back to me. However, another time I called as my husband had lost a treasured fountain pen, and we thought it might be at the Duke of Richmond. That time the person who answered the phone was very helpful, and, yes, we eventually did found the pen at home.

This is one of the nicer pubs in terms of décor, which is standard Duke pub style. If you are a large group you might have problems finding seating even at the quietest of times as so many of the seating arrangements are booths. However, two of the last times I was there, there were large groups at the back, so the pub might be able to accommodate your needs, if you happen to get someone helpful on the telephone.

Number of visits by yours truly: a dozen or so, most recently on a Saturday afternoon in FebruaryTTC information: Queen Station, take the south exit to Queen Street West, then follow the sidewalk west around the corner to James StreetBooze selection: standard Duke pub selection of approximately 30 beers, including Strongbow and Bulmers ciders. Yes, they have Pimm’s!Food selection: standard pub grubService staff: pleasant, but you can wait for service sometimes, which is annoying if you have a play starting shortlyPrices: expensive like all Duke pubs, but we’re talking tourist/politician/shopping centralToilets: rather fancyPatio: on the street facing west, with a lovely view of Old City Hall, however, that building blocks most of the sun in the afternoonWheelchair accessible: yes and no, it seems to be wheelchair accessible through the office building that the pub is attached to, but the office building was closed when I was there on a weekend and we couldn’t exit through it, even though the entrance from the pub to the office building was unlocked. I’d call aheadTelevisions: yes, three were visible from where I was sittingLive music: noPiped-in music: standard ’80s.

“There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn.” Samuel Johnson

“‘Tis my intention, gentle sir, to perish in a tavern.” Unknown, 13th century

“As I never refuse a small expence for the sake of a merry companion, we instantly adjourned to a neighbouring alehouse, and, in a few moments, had a frothing tankard, and a smoaking steak spread on the table before us. It is impossible to express how much the sight of such good cheer improved my companion’s vivacity.” Oliver Goldsmith

“Alcohol makes other people less tedious, and food less bland.” Christopher Hitchens

“There cannot be good living where there is not good drinking.” Benjamin Franklin

“I suddenly realize that, of all the buildings in the world — art galleries and hospitals and libraries and good homes — pubs are the best kind of buildings.” Caitlin Moran